The chairman led a heartfelt tribute to Hefyn Roberts of Cheshire who had died just a few days before the meeting, describing him as an example of devotion, enthusiasm, hard work and commitment to Schools football. A man who will be greatly missed but very fondly remembered by his many friends and colleagues. A minute of silent reflection was observed by all present.

The published ESFA and NCSFA Standing Orders were adopted for the meeting

The minutes of the AGM 2016 were received and accepted with just an occasional error being pointed out and corrected. The chair had been taken by Mike Duffy and not Ken Davies as written in the minutes.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Annual Report from Hon Sec Peter Tracey

The report had been circulated to all counties in advance and drew attention to some positive and less positive developments in the season just finished.

The main thrusts of the report were as follows

There continues to be a pressing need for fixtures and competitions to be completed in a shorter time frame, with the aspiration that we shall see all finals played before Easter.

All our cup finals in 2017 were very good events

There are financial and other pressures on all counties which will need to be addressed imaginatively if Inter County Football is to continue.

A more proactive approach to fund raising is needed and some good examples can be used as exemplars.

Festivals for under 14 Boys and Girls and under 15 Boys were held in the season providing really good experiences for about 400 boys and girls.

Under 18 football is threatened by many outside interests and these need to be recognised.

Girls football is booming but the recognition of Schools Inter County Competition needs to be constantly argued for. The FA and RTCs seem less than considerate at times.

We need to recognise the role of CWOs and publicise names and contacts in our programmes and publications

The report was accepted, and a short discussion centred on the CWO issue linked to First Aid matters and the need for all county teams to have staff in attendance at training and matches who satisfied all current requirements so far as safeguarding of young people in our care is concerned. The guidelines are well publicised by ESFA

Financial Report from Hon Treasurer Chris Newman

The accounts show that we ended the year with almost exactly the same balances, (£4047.26) as those with which we started and that this was down to a number of factors

Careful allocation of funds to cover three festivals, for which we received grant funding of £2500

Cup Finals were less costly thanks to good management

Sensible affiliation fees

Prospects for 2017-18 had improved with the notification from ESFA that a grant will be forthcoming

Chris informed the meeting of his intention to step down at the end of 2017-18 season and that the Association needs to appoint his successor shortly. Counties were asked to think about nominations.

The Auditor’s report

Dave Prothero gave a glowing commendation of the accounts and the work of our treasurer. He also commented that there is much uncertainty over the financial situation for county football in the coming year.

Election of Officers

Following nomination and seconding the officers were elected for 2017-18 as follows:

Chairman: Ken Davies

Secretary: Peter Tracey

Treasurer: Chris Newman

Vice Chairman: Dave Prothero (North Yorkshire)

Hon Auditor: Dave Prothero

ESFA representatives: Owen Aiston, Alan Johnston, Andy Williams

CWO: Alan Johnston

Website: Neil Pont

Fixture programme for 2017-18

The secretary circulated a proposed set of fixtures for both the East and the West side divisions.

The fixture programme is attached to these minutes and involves all counties who indicated verbally at the meeting their intention to take part.

The hope was again expressed that both girls’ leagues would be completed on both sides before Christmas to allow semi finals in January before the ESFA nomination deadline date. This was agreed by those attending but there was a discussion about Open weekends for Girls being increasingly taken by RTCs and the FA. So, the advice to all counties was that they should book the fixtures to be on an open weekend and to notify all concerned of the fixture dates giving notice of at least two full weeks.

It was agreed that a programme of fixtures leading to a trophy and a title would be prepared at under 14 Boys and also under 14 Girls in the coming season. There were 7 Counties wanting to take part at under 14 Girls and 4 at under 14 boys.

No formal proposal to introduce a competition at under14 was made. So the suggestion implied at the meeting was to follow the ESFA guidelines for inter-county football at that age group

Lancashire informed the meeting that any girl not willing or able to play for her county would not be nominated for any national squad.

Re Under 14 Comps please see the addendum to these minutes below

Cup Final arrangements

Under 18 boys: final to be staged by winner of the West v East semi final

Under 16 Boys: final to be staged by winner of the East v West semi final

Under 16 Girls: final to be staged by winner of the West v East semi final

Open Discussion

1. Administrators

There was much discussion of the role of the paid administrator. It was generally felt that whilst the new administrators might not initially be experienced in schools’ football ethos, nevertheless there was an opportunity here for them to explore opportunities of sponsorship, joint working with county FAs, scheduling matters with other stakeholders in junior football, launching initiatives and showing enterprise. This was not just an opportunity for SFAs to spread workloads, but also an opportunity for the administrators to carve a niche and make a job which might be to their advantage as well.

2. Funding

Discussion also about the future funding of schools’ football. Whilst there is still some ring-fenced funding for the disability game and other developmental areas, it had to be noted that funds to local associations was drying up or being stopped. There are no funds for Inter Association football. Local Associations will have to become self-funding. Newcastle SFA has seven age group teams all of which are self funding in one way or another.

3. Repton and PFA

The Repton development courses have ceased due to a lack of suitable nominations and the withdrawal of PFA funding

4. Best practice

There was discussion about the ongoing need for all counties to observe best practice so far as naming and identifying CWOs, having suitably qualified First Aid at hand for all matches, and having good registration procedures for all players with named contacts and essential medical histories at the start of the season. The ESFA website and The FA website offer huge resources and information to all involved in junior football so far as safeguarding and care of players is concerned.

Date of AGM 2018: Monday 11 June 2018 at Canalside Huddersfield at 7.00pm with buffet at 6.00pm.

There being no other business the chairman closed the meeting at 8.45pm.

PMT (15 June 2017)

Addendum

Under 14 Girls

Those counties wishing to take part in 2017-18

East side: Durham, South Yorkshire and Cleveland

West Side: Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire

Proposed that the leading team on East side will then play the leading team on west side for a new trophy to be called the NCSFA Under 14 Girls Trophy. Fixtures to be arranged at mutually convenient times and dates but to be completed before mid February at the latest.

Under 14 Boys

The Counties wishing to participate are Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cleveland.